PREFERENCES & PRACTICES SURVEY (from May '99)

During a two-day period in May 1999, we conducted a survey of male JackinWorld readers to learn about their masturbation preferences and practices. The survey was open to males of all ages. Almost 2,350 responses were sent in; after we removed duplicate entries and frivolous entries (for instance, the reader who listed his age as 1), 2,284 remained. Here's a run-down of the results.

1. What was your age at your last birthday? * Average age: 22.0 (youngest 12; oldest 82)

Compared to the results of our SURVEY #3 (from October '97), JackinWorld readers seem to be a little older in 1999 than they were before. Still, however, teens and 20-somethings make up the vast majority of the JackinWorld readership.

This confirms our earlier findings (see SURVEY #3 (from October '97), question #5) that while masturbation frequency tends to wane with age, it does so slowly over a period of decades. The chart illustrates that the number of JackinWorld readers of various ages is not directly in line with the masturbation frequencies of readers of various ages.

4. Which of the following is most true for you? * I am currently not in a relationship: 68.9% (ave. age: 19.7) * I am in a romantic relationship, but it has not become sexual: 9.5% (ave. age: 18.0) * I am in a sexual/romantic relationship, but I am not living with the person: 10.0% (ave. age: 22.3) * I am married or in a domestic partnership: 11.6% (ave. age: 39.4)

Of those over age 21 who are not currently in a relationship, average weekly masturbation frequency is 7.0.

Of those over age 21 who are married or in a domestic partnership, average weekly masturbation frequency is 4.9.

Readers in domestic partnerships still masturbate quite a lot, although significantly less than single readers. Considering the high average age of domestic-partnered readers, however, those readers do not masturbate all that less often than single men of the same age.

The 20s are the most common years for a JackinWorld reader to first have intercourse with a female. If a reader hasn't had intercourse with a female by age 40, he probably won't ever experience it (probably because he has no desire to).

Average age of "totally" or "mostly" straight readers: 21.0 Average age of "totally" or "mostly" gay readers: 27.1

Over 70% of JackinWorld readers consider themselves heterosexual. For those who consider themselves homosexual, the numbers are more or less in line with the general population (depending on whose study you believe) – although they tend to be older than the others. One reason for this might be that far more "straight" people realize they are gay later in life than "gay" people who realize they're actually straight, heterosexuality being the presumed societal default. Few people do not think about their sexual preference; in fact, the survey results do not suggest that those who chose this response were, on average, younger than readers who chose the other responses.

7. How long have you been reading JackinWorld? * Since it first started, in late 1996: 7.5% * For 1 to 2 years: 36.2% * 6 months to a year: 23.0% * 2 months to 6 months: 14.0% * Less than 2 months: 19.3%

8. Are you right- or left-handed? * Right: 87.2% * Left: 12.8%

Our left-handedness figure is only 2/10ths of a percent off from one statistic for left-handed men (12.6%) we found on the Internet.

9. When you're about halfway through a masturbation session, which hand or hands do you use (if any) to stimulate your penis? * I do not use my hands when I masturbate: 1.1% * My right only: 48.5% * My left only: 14.4% * Both – I switch off between the two: 35.9%

Of right-handed people, percentage who masturbate primarily with the left hand: 9.7% Of left-handed people, percentage who masturbate primarily with the right hand: 19.9% Of righties, percentage who masturbate with both hands: 37.0% Of lefties, percentage who masturbate with both hands: 32.5%

Over a third of readers use both hands to stimulate their penis at least at some point during their masturbation sessions. While this figure doesn't vary much depending on overall handedness, twice as many left-handed people "switch over" (use primarily their right hand) when they masturbate compared to right handed-people. Why? Perhaps because left-handed people are more used to doing certain things with the other hand – for instance, handshaking. Like sexual preference, the presumed societal default is that a person is right-handed, so it's easier for him to live a "natural," right-handed life than it is for a left-handed person to live a "left-handed life."

10. At the climax of a masturbation session (at the point of orgasm), which hand or hands do you use (if any) to stimulate your penis? * I do not use my hands: 1.4% * My right only: 62.2% * My left only: 14.6% * Both – I switch off, or sometimes I use one and sometimes the other: 21.7%

This question was somewhat faulty, as saliva (a popular lube) was not given as a choice – even though "other" was available. Still, most readers do not seem to use any lubrication when they masturbate. Commercial lubes are more popular with older readers than younger ones.

13. What is your favorite time of day to masturbate? * Morning: 12.2% * Afternoon: 17.3% * Evening/bedtime: 61.0% * In the middle of the night: 9.5%

14. Where do you most often masturbate to orgasm? * In bed: 48.2% * In the bedroom, but not in bed: 18.7% * In the shower or bathtub: 9.2% * In the bathroom at home, but not in the shower or bathtub: 10.4% * In my home, but not in the bedroom or bathroom: 12.2% * Not in my home, although indoors: 0.5% * Outdoors: 0.7%

Of those who usually masturbate in bed, percentage of those who prefer to do it lying on their backs: 86.2% Of those who usually masturbate in the shower or bathtub, percentage of those who prefer to do it standing: 19.0%

The standard, basic male masturbation session is done in bed at night with the person lying on his back. Very few readers prefer to masturbate anywhere but home. Fewer than 1 in 5 readers who masturbate in the shower or bathtub do it standing up – most sit or kneel.

16. When you don't have much privacy, how do you feel about the "danger" of being walked in on while masturbating? * It's a turn-off – I much prefer having plenty of privacy: 51.6% (ave. age: 22.0) * I don't really care either way: 28.9% (ave. age: 21.0) * It's a turn-on – the danger enhances the excitement: 19.5% (ave. age: 23.4)

It's not surprising that most JackinWorld readers prefer to masturbate in private. What is surprising is that so many – more than 1 in 4 – don't care much about privacy. The median age of these readers suggests they aren't just people who live by themselves, either – interesting.

17. When you first begin a masturbation session, which best describes the way your penis feels? * It's very, very sensitive: 17.3% * I wouldn't call it very, very sensitive, but I'm happy with how it feels: 71.0% * It's not all that sensitive – I wish it were much more sensitive: 11.7%

18. How firm a grip do you use at various points of your session? (Participants were told to skip the question if they don't masturbate with a hand.) * I grip lightly more or less all the way through: 16.7% * I start off with a light grip and use a firm grip at the end: 43.4% * I start off firm and use a lighter grip at the end: 9.1% * I use a firm grip more or less all the way through: 30.7%

19. How fast a stroking (or thrusting) speed do you use at various points of your masturbation session? * I go slowly more or less all the way through: 9.6% * I start off slowly but I'm going fast when I orgasm: 59.1% * I start off quickly but I slow down or stop when orgasm starts: 17.7% * I go quickly more or less all the way through: 13.5%

20. Which of the following best describes your use of visual stimulation (in the form of pictures or videos) when you masturbate? * I rarely or never use visual stimulation: 24.5% * I sometimes use visual stimulation, but my eyes are usually closed by the time I orgasm: 34.3% * I'm often looking at a picture or video when I orgasm: 38.9% * Under most circumstances I can reach orgasm only when I'm looking at a picture or video: 2.3%

21. Which of the following best describes how much of a leisurely session (from start to orgasm) you spend stimulating your penis and how much you spend resting? * I'm stimulating my penis pretty much the whole time: 44.3% (ave. age: 22.6) * I take short, occasional breaks (say, 10 seconds resting for every 2 minutes stroking): 39.8% (ave. age: 21.5) * I take short, frequent breaks (say, 10 seconds resting for every 20 seconds stroking): 11.0% (ave. age: 21.9) * I take long breaks (say, 30 seconds or more): 4.9% (ave. age: 22.8)

22. What experiences, if any, have you had masturbating in the presence of other males? (Participants were told "flashing" someone – exhibiting themselves to a stranger without their consent – doesn't count, nor does accidentally being seen masturbating.) * I've never masturbated in the presence of another male: 43.3% * I've masturbated in the presence of another male, but he didn't see anything: 14.0% * I've masturbated in the presence of another male who could see what I was doing: 42.7%

23. What experiences, if any, have you had masturbating in the presence of females? (Same restrictions were given as #22.) * I've never masturbated in the presence of a female: 67.1% * I've masturbated in the presence of a female, but she didn't see anything: 6.8% * I've masturbated in the presence of a female who could see what I was doing: 26.1%

Readers are much more likely to have masturbated out in the open with other males than with females. Only a third have masturbated in the presence of a female at all, while most have masturbated in the presence of another male in some way.

24. What experiences, if any, have you had being masturbated by other people? (For this question "being masturbated" was defined as having your penis directly stimulated by another person for more than just a few seconds.) * I've never been masturbated by another person: 43.3% * I've been masturbated by a male but not a female: 21.8% * I've been masturbated by a female but not a male: 19.6% * I've been masturbated by both a male and a female: 15.3%

25. What experiences, if any, have you had masturbating other people? (For this question "masturbating" was defined as directly stimulating a person's genitals for more than just a few seconds.) * I've never masturbated another person: 44.0% * I've masturbated a male but not a female: 22.1% * I've masturbated a female but not a male: 19.3% * I've masturbated both a male and a female: 14.5%

The figures for "I've never been masturbated by another person" and "I've never masturbated another person" are remarkably similar to those for "I've never masturbated in the presence of another male" (question #22). Also, the figures for masturbating other people and being masturbated are statistically identical. Does this mean someone who gets masturbated is nearly always willing to reciprocate? Not necessarily – from these stats, coincidence cannot be ruled out.

26. When you fantasize about people during your masturbation sessions, how often are you thinking of males and how often are they females? (Participants were told to skip the question if they never fantasize about anyone – 1.2% skipped the question.) * They're always or nearly always female: 31.2% * They're usually female: 16.1% * About half and half: 21.3% * They're usually male: 16.0% * They're always or nearly always male: 15.5%

27. If you fantasize about females, which of the following do you most often fantasize about? (Participants were told to skip the question if they never fantasize about females – 18.2% skipped the question.) * Ordinary people I know personally (friends and acquaintances): 61.6% * Ordinary people I've seen but don't personally know: 13.8% * Relatives: 1.8% * Celebrities: 10.2% * Imaginary people who don't actually exist: 12.6%

28. If you fantasize about males, which of the following do you most often fantasize about? (Participants were told to skip the question if they never fantasize about males – 32.9% skipped the question.) * Ordinary people I know personally (friends and acquaintances): 60.4% * Ordinary people I've seen but don't personally know: 19.2% * Relatives: 1.8% * Celebrities: 6.3% * Imaginary people who don't actually exist: 12.2%

The figures for questions #27 and #28 are remarkably similar, indicating that the types of people readers fantasize about are similar, whether the fantasy subject is male or female. In both cases, friends and acquaintances are by far the most common fantasy subjects. Question #28 also indicates that over two-thirds (67.1%) of male readers fantasize about other males at least sometimes; 81.8% fantasize about females at least sometimes.

29. About how much older or younger than you are the people you usually fantasize about? (Participants were told to skip the question if they never fantasize about anyone – 1.6% skipped the question.) * More than 8 years older: 3.6% (ave. age: 23.1) * Maybe 3 to 8 years older: 9.4% (ave. age: 18.9) * Roughly my age, give or take a few years: 69.6% (ave. age: 19.7) * Maybe 3 to 8 years younger: 10.7% (ave. age: 26.9) * More than 8 years younger: 6.8% (ave. age: 42.6)

These findings suggest that the "ideal" age of a reader's fantasy subject is about 21. However, regardless of a person's age, he tends to fantasize about someone closer to his own age than this "ideal." In other words, as a person gets older, so does the age of the people he most often fantasizes about. (The figures for older readers are in parentheses because they aren't accurate: If a 60-year-old reader fantasizes about people 40 years younger, the best he could do in this Survey was select the "more than 8 years younger" option.)

30. In the heat of a masturbation session, how often do you fantasize about the following?

It's interesting that of the 12 fantasies on the Survey, the least popular is "females masturbating," while "males masturbating" ranks as #5. However, "having sex with a male or males" and "watching two males having sex" rank as the fantasies which the most readers never have. In other words, while a lot of readers (46.2%) never fantasize about females masturbating, more readers (51.4%) never fantasize about having sex with another male – see the blue bars in the diagram.

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Quick JackinPoll

Do you masturbate to make yourself feel good, or to try and imitate sex?: